Switch seal

ABSTRACT

This invention is a switch seal for push button type electrical switches to prohibit water from leaking into entry panels and damaging electronic functions.

United States Patent [191 Tobey et al.

[ 51 -June5, 1973 [54] SWITCH SEAL [75] Inventors: Albert E. Tobey, Fullerton; Alvis W.

Wood, Mission Viejo, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC.

22 Filed: Apr. 8, 1971 21 App1.No.: 132,469

[52] US. Cl. ..200/168 G, 277/212 FB [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lh 9/02 [58] Field of Search ..277/95, 212 PB;

200/159 R, 168 G, 172 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Meyer ..200/16 D 1,779,018 10/1930 Smallwood et a1 ..277/212 C 2,305,265 12/1942 LeTourneau'. ....277/212 FB 3 ,326,559 6/1967 Persons ..277/95 3,588,423 6/1971 i-iallerberg ..200/168 G FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,525,506 l/l970 Germany ..277/206 636,395 3/1962 Italy ..277/212 FB Primary Examiner-Meyer Perlin Assistant ExaminerRonald C. Capossela AttorneyR. S. Sciascia and 0. E. Hodges [57] ABSTRACT This invention is a switch seal for push button type electrical switches to prohibit water from leaking into entry panels and damaging electronic functions.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JUN 5 I975 3. 7 37. 605

INVENTORS BERT 15'. T0857 W5 W. W000 ATEOR/VEY SWITCH SEAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At present the leakage of water into action entry panels causing damage to vital electronic functions has been a problem. Presently available push button switch seals retain water in the upper panels. Presently available seals are complex and require clamping means such as bolted flanges.

The present invention has the advantages that it can fit into a very small area below the push button switch, that it assumes the shape of the depressed area of the switch panel and that it can be made to fit switch panel applications where extreme fit problems occur. The device provides a simple, inexpensive solution to the leakage problem mentioned above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The general purpose of this invention is to provide a seal means which can prevent water from leaking into action entry panels and damaging electronic functions. To attain this desired result, the present invention provides a seal with a collar means which fits tightly around the shaft connected to a diaphram means having a reinforced edge which expands outwardly to seat in the depressed portion below the switch without requiring clamping.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The principal object of the invention is to provide a switching seal which will prohibit moisture from leaking into action entry panels.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide a switch seal which has the ability to fit into very small areas below push button switches.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a switch seal which assumes the shape of the depressed area of the switch.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a switch seal which requires no initial preload to the switch action.

In addition, it is another object of the instant invention to provide a switch seal which can be made to fit switch panel applications where extreme fit problems occur. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 in cross-section, shows an undepressed push button switch with the switch seal installed in position;

FIG. 2 in cross-section, shows the same push button switch in the depressed position; and

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of the switch seal alone in the undepressed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 3 shows switch seal 14 in full section, the switch seal comprises a collar means 16, which fits snuggly around shaft 11, of the push button. Collar 16 connected to a bell shaped diaphram having an edge 20. Edge 20 is reinforced by a spring steel wire 22. It is noted that another reinforcing material could be utilized. In addition the edge could be made thick enough to have inherent strength to provide a seal. In the preferred embodiment the collar 16 is a silicone rubber collar which fits tightly around the shaft 11 of the push button switch. The diaphram does not resist the push button required force for closing the switch. The spring steel wire 22, is collapsed by squeezing the spring toa smaller diameter than the recess 13 in which the push button rests. The seal 14, is then fit into the recess 13 and released. The spring wire 22 forces itself against the sides of the recess 13, thereby providing a water tight seal. Such seal will resist minor pressure differential fluctuations encountered in operation.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A moisture tight push button seal assembly of the type in which the shaft of a switch is restricted to longitudinal movement and passes through a panel member and where the button of said switch fits into a'complementary depressed portion of said panel, comprising:

a panel member;

a depressed portion of said panel;

a shaft passing through said panel member and means to allow the shaft to move only in the longitudinal direction;

a radially inmost collar tightly surrounding said shaft and fixed to move longitudinally with said shaft;

a radially outward panel engaging means biased to circumferentially engage said depressed portion of said panel and being retained in engagement solely by friction;

a means inter-connecting said panel engaging means and said collar which, upon inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, said inter-connecting means collapses and simultaneously biases the entire circumference of said collar means circumferentially inward and said panel engaging means circumferentially outward to enhance the seal around the entire circumference of said collar and the entire circumference of said panel engaging means.

2. A switch seal as in claim 1, wherein said collar means, said panel engaging means and said diaphram are made of silicone rubber.

3. A switch sea] as in claim 2 wherein said panel engaging means is reinforced with spring steel wire.

4. A switch seal as in claim 3, wherein said interconnecting means is bell shaped.

5. A switch seal as in claim 3, wherein said spring steel wire is circumferentially compressible.

6. A switch seal as in claim 3, wherein said spring steel wire further reinforces and biases the panel engaging means circumferentially into engagement with the depressed portion of the panel.

7. A switch seal as in claim 1, wherein said shaft includes a flange means which further fixes the collar means with respect to said shaft.

8. A switch seal as in claim 7, wherein said flange means is a push button at the end of said shaft. 

1. A moisture tight push button seal assembly of the type in which the shaft of a switch is restricted to longitudinal movement and passes through a panel member and where the button of said switch fits into a complementary depressed portion of said panel, comprising: a panel member; a depressed portion of said panel; a shaft passing through said panel member and means to allow the shaft to move only in the longitudinal direction; a radially inmost collar tightly surrounding said shaft and fixed to move longitudinally with said shaft; a radially outward panel engaging means biased to circumferentially engage said depressed portion of said panel and being retained in engagement solely by friction; a means inter-connecting said panel engaging means and said collar which, upon inward longitudinal movement of said shaft, said inter-connecting means collapses and simultaneously biases the entire circumference of said collar means circumferentially inward and said panel engaging means circumferentially outward to enhance the seal around the entire circumference of said collar and the entire circumference of said panel engaging means.
 2. A switch seal as in claim 1, wherein said collar means, said panel engaging means and said diaphram are made of silicone rubber.
 3. A switch seal as in claim 2 wherein said panel engaging means is reinforced with spring steel wire.
 4. A switch seal as in claim 3, wherein said interconnecting means is bell shaped.
 5. A switch seal as in claim 3, wherein said spring steel wire is circumferentially compressible.
 6. A switch seal as in claim 3, wherein said spring steel wire further reinforces and biases the panel engaging means circumferentially into engagement with the depressed portion of the panel.
 7. A switch seal as in claim 1, wherein said shaft includes a flange means which further fixes the collar means with respect to said shaft.
 8. A switch seal as in claim 7, wherein said flange means is a push button at the end of said shaft. 